Warsaw Community Schools’ Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling discusses the proposed 2021 budget with school board members. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A recap of the Warsaw Community Schools’ 2021 budget plan was presented to the Board of during a work session on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Chief Financial Officer April Fitterling presented the plan to the board. The budget totals $83,016,176, with $45.7 million in the education fund; $21,584,703 in the operations fund, with a proposed tax rate of $0.6432; $11,152,473 in the debt service fund, with a proposed tax rate of $0.4698; $2,879,000 in the referendum fund, with a proposed tax rate of $0.1217; and $1.7 million in the rainy day fund.

The education fund for Warsaw Community Schools is funded by a state basic grant based on the school corporation’s enrollment. For the 2021 budget, Fitterling estimated WCS at 6,796 students, with a base funding of $6,123.79 per student.

Expenditures out of the education fund include salaries and benefits for teachers, principals and instructional assistants; classroom technology and supplies; and athletic coaches.

Fitterling also projected a $7 million transfer from the education fund to the operations fund.

Expenditures in the operations fund include maintenance, transportation, custodial services, central office, technology, utilities and small capital projects.

The budget also includes a plan to replace five of the school corporation’s buses, which will cost $805,480.

Fitterling also discussed potential projects that the school corporation’s 2020 general obligation bonds could go toward. GO bonds are backed solely by credit and taxing power of an issuing jurisdiction versus the revenue from a given project.

Proposed projects include the Jefferson Elementary School gymnasium floor, restrooms and additional classrooms at the high school and updates to the school’s tennis court.

“It all depends on how much the quotes come back for and what we can fit inside at the potential $3 million GO bond,” said Fitterling.

There will be an official project hearing on Monday, Sept. 21, during the school board’s regular meeting.